Your Neighbourhood Dental Practice in San Pedro, CA
San Pedro is the Los Angeles neighbourhood that hosts the Port of Los Angeles, sitting in San Pedro Bay about 20 miles south of downtown. It is a working harbour town with deep union roots, and it is the community our practice has settled into for the long term.
A harbour neighbourhood we know well
San Pedro carries the ZIP codes 90731 through 90734 and the 310 and 424 area codes, and it takes its name from Pope Peter I of Alexandria. Because it is a Los Angeles neighbourhood rather than a Census-defined place, population figures vary between sources, so we will not pin a single number to it. What we can say plainly is that this is a maritime town shaped by the port at its edge.
The Port of Los Angeles, promoted as "America's Port," opened on December 9, 1907 and today occupies 7,500 acres of land and water with 43 miles of waterfront, adjoining the separate Port of Long Beach. In 2024 it handled 10.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units of cargo, worth US$333 billion, across 1,807 vessel arrivals. Many of our patients work in and around that harbour, and we build appointment times around shift schedules whenever we can.
Longshore families and union dental benefits
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13 is headquartered here, at 630 South Centre Street, San Pedro, CA 90731. For members and their families, dental care matters, and the ILWU-PMA Welfare Plan is a jointly administered trust fund governed by a six-person Board of Trustees, three from the ILWU and three from the PMA. Alongside basic medical benefits, the plan offers dental care coverage to members and their families with Welfare Plan eligibility.
The ILWU-PMA Coastwise indemnity benefits run on a plan year from July 1 to June 30, which is useful to keep in mind when timing visits. On August 31, 2023, the ILWU announced ratification of a six-year contract with the Pacific Maritime Association, and that stability matters to a lot of harbour households. We do not publish co-pay amounts or network details here, because those belong on your official benefit booklet rather than on our page. If you are unsure how your coverage applies, our team is glad to help you read it. You can learn more about billing and coverage on our insurance and financing page, or simply call us with your questions.
Landmarks that mark the neighbourhood
Two structures anchor San Pedro's skyline and its history. The Vincent Thomas Bridge, a suspension bridge crossing Los Angeles Harbor, links San Pedro with Terminal Island and is the only suspension bridge in the Greater Los Angeles area. It opened on November 15, 1963, replacing ferry service as the port expanded its cargo operations. Nearer the coast, the Point Fermin Light was built in 1874 with lumber from California redwoods and was added to the National Register of Historic Places, reference No. 72000234, on June 13, 1972.
The waterfront is changing again. West Harbor, a 42-acre food hall and waterfront park replacing the demolished Ports O' Call Village, is estimated for completion in 2026. The San Pedro Fish Market and Restaurant, founded in 1956 and operating for more than 65 years, signed a 49-year lease as an anchor tenant with a new 55,000-square-foot restaurant. For families in the area, it means more reasons to spend a weekend by the water close to home.
A community with deep roots
San Pedro is home to the largest Italian-American community in Southern California, centered on the "Via Italia" along South Cabrillo Avenue, with an estimate of about 45,000 Italian-Americans. It is also considered the heart of the Croatian and Norwegian communities in Los Angeles. We see that heritage across generations in our chairs, from grandparents to grandchildren, and we take time to explain what we are doing at every visit.
How our practice works
We are a general family dental practice focused on the everyday care neighbours ask for, from routine cleanings and check-ups to restorative and cosmetic services. We describe your options, answer questions, and let you decide at your own pace. You can read what we offer on our services page, hear from other local families on our reviews page, or reach us directly through our contact page. If Spanish is easier, an español version of our site is available.
Sources
This page is general information about our practice and the communities we serve. It is not dental advice, and it is not a description of any specific treatment outcome. Please speak with us about your own situation.
Last reviewed August 2, 2026.